Restoration and Repair of Sullivan Gateway at City Park Complete
Published on May 06, 2021
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) celebrated the completion of the multi-phase restoration and repair of the Sullivan Gateway enhancement to the City Park Esplanade.
Sullivan Gateway, built in 1917, marks the south entry of the City Park Esplanade, part of the City Beautiful Parkway Historic District. The restoration of the terracotta walls and lion-head fountains restores an important architectural feature of the City Park Esplanade. The Gateway includes two 300-foot terra cotta walls with two forty-foot tall freestanding sculptures atop Doric columns that represent early Colorado agriculture and mining endeavors. It was listed on Colorado Preservation Inc.'s list of endangered places in 2013.
“The century old grand gateway to the entrance of Denver’s City Park had fallen into disrepair,” said Happy Haynes, executive director of Parks and Recreation. “The restoration of this landmark structure exemplifies our commitment to preserving Denver’s legacy by providing beautiful places for people to enjoy.”
The first phase included the refurbishment of both the east and west lion head fountains and new mechanical and electrical work for operation and rehabilitation of the historical terracotta wall adjacent to the fountains. The final phases completed the restoration of the remaining terracotta crescent walls on both the east and west side and associated landscape improvements.
The $4.7M Sullivan Gateway project work was paid for in part by a $200K History Colorado – State Historical Fund Grant, and a $1500 donation from the East Angel Friends and Alumni Foundation and the DPR Capital Improvement Fund.
In the early 20th century, the national “City Beautiful” movement, inspired by Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, aimed to elevate the human spirit by making communities aesthetically attractive by building parks, planting greenery, adding sidewalks and paving streets. Denver Mayor Robert Speer, elected in 1904, was an enthusiastic supporter of the City Beautiful movement, and he became the driving force behind the creation of Civic Center and other areas identified for Denver’s City Beautiful master plan. After the turn-of-the-century, the park benefitted from the city’s investment in the City Beautiful concept. The park was linked, as originally envisioned, to a wider system of parks using parkways and grand boulevards. During this period, monumental sculpture was also introduced, consistent with City Beautiful philosophy, including the McLellan Gateway, the Sopris Gateway, the Monti Gateway, the Sullivan Gateway, and the Thatcher Memorial Fountain, which mark park entrances.
